Adult Small Groups

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”Matthew 18:20 (NASB)

Small groups are a popular offering of our adult faith formation opportunities. They are just what they sound like, a small group of people gathering together to dig into Scripture, apply the teachings of Christ to their lives, and to draw closer to the Lord. The small group provides a place to explore and be supported as you live out your faith. These groups are a transformative experience for those involved. A place where you can draw closer to Jesus through learning and relationships.

Advent Small Groups:
These small groups will be meeting weekly between Nov. 26-January 6. Discussion will focus on discipleship within the Liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas.

Evangelical Small Groups:
We provide several small groups that meet weekly throughout the year. These small groups focus is similar to our Advent small groups but gather and meet beyond the liturgical seasons. Foci is on walking together on our individual faith journeys and being challenged to live out our faith in the world we live in. Below is a listing of our current small group offerings:

Monday evenings, young adult women - discussion is based on the readings of the upcoming Sunday Mass

Tuesday morning, retired men - discussion is based on the readings of the upcoming Sunday Mass

Tuesday morning, mixed-generation women - discussion is based on the readings of the upcoming Sunday Mass

Wednesday evening, mixed-generation women - discussion is based on different books chosen by the group or the Gospel of the upcoming Sunday Mass

Thursday morning, retired men - discussion is based on the readings of the upcoming Sunday Mass

Thursday evening, middle-aged women - discussion is based on the readings of the upcoming Sunday Mass

Contemplative Small Groups:

Thursday morning, mixed-generation women - discussion is based on scripture, teachings, and thoughts of other great minds. Currently, a focus is on Thomas Merton

Please see below for some frequently asked questions:

Are Small Groups Like a Bible Study?

Small groups read the Bible but they do not approach Scripture with academic interests. Instead, the group reads Scripture with the goal of drawing closer to Christ and having that encounter with Him in Scripture transform their lives. Naturally, through this process, people learn more about the Bible but the ultimate goal is to encounter Christ in His Word.

What is a Typical Small Group Experience Like?

There are usually 4 to 10 people in a group. The group gathers together and has some free sharing time about their personal lives. The small group facilitator then gathers all to start the evening with prayer. Together the group reads a Scripture passage and then digs into deeply through a series of questions led by the trained small group facilitator. These questions help participants to see the Scripture with new "eyes" and to hear what Christ is trying to communicate to them and how to apply this to their life. Sometimes other Church documents are read that supplement the Scripture. The session ends with "homework" and prayer. This "homework" is a practical way to grow in one particular area of discipleship in the coming week. We call this the "Encounter with Christ" for the week.

What Happens if I don't Know Much or I'm Not Catholic or Christian?

Small Groups are open to all! They are easy to join and you will feel comfortable no matter where you are in your faith journey. We work very hard to make our small groups intentionally welcoming to people from all walks of life. I would venture to guess that most people in the group you join won't know much either!

How Often Do Small Groups Meet and for How Long?

Small groups meet weekly and for 90 minutes.

What's My Commitment if I Join a Small Group?

Just 6 weeks. After that, you have the choice of whether to continue or say that small groups aren't for you.

What Kind of Groups are There?

Most of the groups are divided by gender and age but we do have a few couple groups. Contact Joe (joew@staparish.net, 515-292-3810) for more information on groups with openings.